I'm seriously considering installing a 3G iPad into the CTT to replace the factory PCM.

Ive been doing a bit of measuring and with a custom faceplate and moving my climate control down about 2" the ipad would fit and look pretty stock.

Hold all the music, video, gps and data you want. Pandora radio, diagnostic tools, lap timer, etc.

Even a top of the line 3G 64g (which is what I am posting this with) is only about $800. Where some of the fancy touch screen nav units are $1500+. You could run 3g data thought it too.

Here is a pic of one installed in something else.

 

It's not quite that simple. You'll need to interface its audio output with the factory amps, which while not a huge deal is going to require a decent converter, which will run you a few hundred bucks. You're going to lose your steering wheel controls for sure. You'll also need to hook up some sort of car charger for the unit, which wouldn't be a huge deal again, but it's just one more thing to try to stuff into the dash.

I personally wouldn't recommend it. New in dash units are coming with things like pandora control, internet connectivity, etc. To be honest, if I was to recommend anything fancy, I'd just run a full on carputer. Cheaper and easier to do, there's a plethora of software out there designed for use in carputers, you've got more freedom when it comes to hardware, screens, software, etc., and you've got limitless potential for upgrades and such.

Just my opinion though, if that's what you want to do, go for it. If it was me, I'd probably go with a Linux distro on an old laptop for a carputer.

 

I've researched the carputer thing for years. Way way more complicated than a all in one built in device that only requires a dock connector.

Bigger better screen, built in gps, built in wifi, built in 3G, built in data packages.

You are way complicating the instal. Slide the ipad into a dock connector and you have your power and audio out. From there it is just like any other audio install in a cayenne. Most are going to loose the steering wheel controls without a $700 most-hur unit anyway. Then you are talking $1500 + head units to do even part of what the ipad will do. (and many of those need to be plugged into an iPod, the ipad has the ipod feature built in).

Just saying that the install is not as tricky as you are making it out to be compared to ANY other replacement and you are starting $2,000+\- ahead just starting out.


Also don't have to deal with the stupid boot and shut down times of a carputer. I see this a way better than any carputer I have ever seen when it comes to packaging and actual usefulness.

 

.....and fwiw I have the pos cd PCM 2.0 so a tranistor radio and a map would be an upgrade.

 

Very interesting idea. Wonder if a smaller android device, would be better. I'm screwing with itunes sync right now with an itouch on a windows device - what a piece of crap itunes is.

Over the air syncing with a large zune would be cool, but that won't be happening unless you install that msft thing they stuck in the ford focus.

With an android being more open, you could conceivably have some wireless remote functionality. I love the volume control on the wheel.

 

As much as I like my android phone i still think the iPad would be the better platform for this.

 

I'd be really interested to see how you did this.. Very cool idea if it could look stock

 

Cole! if you do this... you're the man haha i'm def interested in this.

 

You ought to check the Apple iPad Forums. Lots of poor reception and disconnects when used in a moving car. The back of the iPad is the antenna, and it takes WiFi & Cell Phone data to do GPS. Around a major town, you might be OK; but in the country?

 

Have traveled quite a bit with my iPad in the car already. Drove all the way up the coast from San Diego to San Francisco, across Yosimite, Death Valley, Las Vegas NV and NM, Denver, Moab, Sante Fe, etc.

Has to get better data reception than the PCM 2.0!

I realiE that in its current form gps is limited by cell reception. Rarely need it when outside cell reception area.

 

Cole, bumping this link again......I think the removable ipad is a great aftermarket diy deal....

Mifi or taking a device that lets the car stereo, house, boat, and vaca home connect via your portal device is the way to go...........not that that device could be the Ipad solely, (the android phone with an aftermaket head unit is a good idea for better sound quality at this moment) but I belive you would need to worry about increased "Steal Me" advertisement...

by 2017 this should all be true, think about if you have internal/external cameras you can access if your alarm goes off or your kid borrowers the rig, complete one cost conlidated wifi for home office etc and the device to find EVERYTHING and access everything.................

Skynet is here.........

 

check out MP3Car.com. Good resource for this kind of stuff...

I built a carputer a while back from my Tahoe and it was pretty awesome. Nice that it had the whole interface and everything...


Not finished product but it was getting there.

 

Cole, apple is going to release a 7" iPad in March 2011, and it will have the retina display built in. I'd wait for that if I were you, fitting a 9.7" outdated iPad is just a waste of time, and its size is huge, it won't look good on your Cayenne. 7" is just the right size.

 

Cole,

Def do it! I have had my iPad in my truck for a while now and it's nothing but AWESOME!
I'm actually buying a cayenne soon and will be installing an iPad in it. Let me know if you have any questions about cost etc.. It was not expensive and was very simple.

G

Ps here is YouTube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OuCL...e_gdata_player

 

I have been son mp3car for many year watching carputer builds. Tat is why the ipad looked interesting.

I have heard the smaller ipad rumors and that is all they see to be at the moment. I see no advantage to a mid sized iPad. If you can't stick it in your pocket like a phone, then it may as well be the size it is.

If you hold your iPad up to your center display it really is pretty close to the right size in the cayenne anyway.

No sure what you could add to the next gen version that would make me want to run away from this one.

At the moment I really just need a cradle for this one to sit in front of the shifter and plug into my modulator so I can use it a bit to see if it would be worth the effort.